Stair transport device

ABSTRACT

A stair transport device ( 1 ) having a planar top platform ( 2 ), two legs ( 3 ) connected to a front end ( 17 ) on each side ( 20 ) and a cross bar ( 4 ) with T-ends ( 23 ) connecting the two legs. Each leg has two sections ( 3   a  &amp;  3   b ) slidably connected with apertures into which a pin can be inserted to adjust the height thereof. The back end ( 18 ) end of the top platform can be placed over a top stair of a plurality of stairs to provide a horizontal platform level with the guide wheels ( 10 ) of a gurney ( 8 ) for transport of medical patients and other items.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to transport platforms and more particularly a platform that provides a level surface over stairs for transporting medical patients and other items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stairs can present a major obstacle for anyone who desires to transport anything up them particularly anything on wheels, such as a wheeled gurney used to transport medical patients. When faced with such an obstacle, most often a patient has to be removed from a wheeled gurney and carried up the stairs by one or more persons, particularly if a patient is heavy. When doing so there is a risk that a patient can be dropped and injured or condition worsened by not being maintained in a horizontal position. Also, as medical transport vans are normally operated by a single worker, often another person must be called to assist to carry a person up stairs, thereby incurring additional labor and costs.

Therefore, a need exists for a transport platform that can be used to transport items on wheels over stairs that is adjustable to accommodate varying number of stairs and is collapsible for east storage and portability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a platform device for that allows persons and other items to be easily and safely transported over stairs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device that is adjustable in height to accommodate a range of stair levels.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a device that is collapsible for convenient handling and storage.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a stair transport device having three major components—a planar platform having a top, bottom, two sides, a front end and a rear end; a leg attached to each side at the front end of the planar platform; and a cross support bar connecting the two legs, said cross bar having a T at each end which the legs pass through. Preferably, each leg has a top section and a bottom section, each section having a plurality of apertures, the bottom section having a cross section less than the cross section of the upper section such that the lower section can slide up or down into the top section. The T ends of cross support section each have at least one aperture with a pull pin for insertion into the at least one aperture in each T end and the top and bottom sections to adjust a height of the platform. The platform preferably has raised edges on the two sides thereof to guide wheeled transport devices on the platform. The stair platform device is collapsible as the legs are rotatably attached to the platform by a connection plate having an aperture into which a pin can be inserted to maintain the legs in a vertical and perpendicular position relative to the platform during use and to maintain the legs in a folded position when the platform is in a collapsed mode for handling and storage.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stair transport device of the present invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the stair transport device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the stair transport device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the stair transport device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the stair transport device of the present invention in collapsed storage and handling mode; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the stair transport device of the present invention in collapsed storage and handling mode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:

-   -   1. transport device, generally     -   2. platform top     -   3. legs     -   3 a. top section of legs     -   3 b. extendable bottom section of legs     -   4. cross bar     -   5. side rails     -   6 a. upper pull pin     -   6 b. lower pull pin     -   7. non-skid material     -   8. gurney     -   9. patient     -   10. gurney guide wheels     -   11. gurney ground wheels     -   12. leg base     -   13. apertures     -   14. leg holding bolt     -   15. platform holding bolts     -   16. platform bottom     -   17. platform front     -   18. platform back     -   19. connection plates     -   20. platform sides     -   21. stairs     -   22. ground surface     -   23. cross bar T-ends     -   24. top step

With reference to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the stair transport device 1 of the present invention in use. The stair transport device 1 has three essential component: one, a planar top platform 2 having two sides 20, a front end 17, a back end 18 and a bottom 16; two, a pair of legs 3 connected on each side 20 at the front 17 of the platform 2 by a connection plate 19; and three, a cross bar 4 connecting the legs 3 at a desired height. When a wheeled object, like a gurney 8 as shown in FIG. 1, carrying a patient 9 over a ground surface 22 on ground surface wheels 11 approaches the platform 2 with upper guide wheels 10, the gurney ground wheels 11 fold up compact under the gurney 8 and the gurney 8 is pushed over and across the platform 2. The platform 2 preferably has two raised rails 5 on each side to prevent the guide wheels 10 of gurney 8 from falling off the sides 20 of the platform 2. Additionally, the platform 2 may have non-skid tape or material 7 on top to provide traction and deter slippage during use. The legs 3 have apertures 13 along the length thereof to allow pins to be placed for height adjustment purposes. The legs 3 preferably have a rubber base 12 to provide traction for the legs 3 on a ground surface 22. As shown in use in FIG. 1 the back end 18 of platform 2 is placed over the top step 24 to provide a level runway with the gurney guide wheels 10.

As also illustrated in FIG. 2, the legs 3 consist of two sections, a top section 3 a and a bottom section 3 b. The cross section of the lower leg section 3 b is less than the cross section of the upper leg section 3 a so the lower section 3 b slidably fits into the upper section 3 a so it can be moved up or down within the upper section 3 a depending on the height of the stairs 21 being transported over so that the platform 2 is level over a top stair. The cross bar 4 has T ends which encompass the legs 3 and apertures 13 into which pull pins 6 b can be inserted to affix the legs 3 at a desired height to match the height of the stairs 21. The legs 3 and platform 2 are maintained in a perpendicular use position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by top pull pin 6 a inserted through an aperture in the connection plate 19 and top section 3 a of the legs 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, side and top views of the transport device 1 of the present invention, respectively, are illustrated showing the component discussed above in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the transport device 1 when it is positioned in a collapsed mode for easy handling and storage when not in use. The transport device 1 is placed in a collapsed mode by simply pulling the upper pull pin 6 a at the top of each leg 3 and rotating each leg 3 upward in line with the platform 2 and then reinserting the pin 6 a to secure the device in the collapsed mode. FIG. 5 also more clearly shows the platform holding bolts 15 and leg holding bolts 14 in the connection plate 19.

It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings. 

Having thus described my invention, I claim:
 1. A stair transport device comprising: a planar platform having a top, bottom, two sides, a front end and a rear end; and a leg attached to each side at the front end of the planar platform.
 2. The stair transport device of claim 1 further comprising: a cross support bar connecting the two legs, said cross bar having a T at each end which the legs pass through.
 3. The stair transport device of claim 2 further wherein: each leg has a top section and a bottom section, each section having a plurality of apertures; the bottom section having a cross section less than the cross section of the upper section such that the lower section can slide up or down into the top section; the T ends of cross support section each having at least one aperture; and a pull pin for insertion into the at least one aperture in the T and the top and bottom sections of each leg to adjust a height of the platform.
 4. The stair transport device of claim 1 further comprising: raised edges on the two sides of the platform to deter wheeled transport devices on the platform from falling off a side of the platform.
 5. The stair transport device of claim 1 wherein: the legs are rotatably attached to the platform by a connection plate having an aperture into which a pin can be inserted to maintain the legs in a vertical and perpendicular position relative to the platform during use and to maintain the legs in a folded position when the platform is in a collapsed mode for handling and storage.
 6. The stair transport device of claim 1 wherein the planar platform has non-skid material on a top surface.
 7. A stair transport device comprising: a planar platform having a top, bottom, two sides, a front end and a rear end; a leg attached to each side at the front end of the planar platform; a cross support bar connecting the two legs, said cross bar having a T at each end which the legs pass through; each leg having a top section and a bottom section, each section having a plurality of apertures; the bottom section having a cross section less than the cross section of the upper section such that the lower section can slide up or down into the top section; the T ends of cross support each having at least one aperture; and a pull pin for insertion into the at least one aperture in the T and the top and bottom sections to adjust a height of the platform.
 8. A stair transport device comprising: a planar platform having a top, bottom, two sides, a front end and a rear end; a leg attached to each side at the front end of the planar platform; a cross support bar connecting the two legs, said cross bar having a T at each end which the legs pass through; each leg having a top section and a bottom section, each section having a plurality of apertures; the bottom section having a cross section less than the cross section of the upper section such that the lower section can slide up or down into the top section; the T ends of cross support section each having at least one aperture; a pull pin for insertion into the at least one aperture in the T and the top and bottom sections to adjust a height of the platform; the platform having raised edges on the two sides thereof to guide wheeled transport devices on the platform; and wherein the legs are rotatably attached to the platform by a connection plate having an aperture into which a pin can be inserted to maintain the legs in a vertical and perpendicular position relative to the platform during use and to maintain the legs in a folded position when the platform is in a collapsed mode for handling and storage. 